Advertisement

Photo Camp: Philadelphia

Loading photos...

Philadelphia Landscape

Photograph by Christian Figueroa

In partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia and Drexel University, National Geographic Photo Camp staff traveled to the City of Brotherly Love from October 7 to 10, 2011, to mentor 22 students on photographic storytelling. The students were assigned to document their perspectives of both familiar and unfamiliar parts of Philadelphia through photography and writing. Photo Camp Philadelphia 2011 was led by photographers Lynn Johnson, Jay Kinghorn, and Piper Watson, as well as NG staffers Todd James, Stacy Gold, and local volunteers Charles Oliva, Mike Arrison, Tyler Haughey, and Colleen Gilligan.

Boys and Girls Club members from all over Philadelphia were invited to participate in the Photo Camp.

Teenager Through Glass

Photograph by Dimerha "Dotty" Brown

Using the Drexel University campus as a home base, students were asked to explore their surroundings photographically.

Street Shadows

Photograph by Iyana Jackson

Photo Camp Philadelphia lead photographer Lynn Johnson worked with students on finding the right vantage point for their images and waiting for the proper elements to move into the frame.

Student in a Red Jacket

Photograph by Denny Justiniano

Photo Camp students practiced portraiture with each other before venturing out into a street setting.

Self-Portrait

Photograph by Branden Edwards

Self-portraits were often an interesting way for Photo Camp students to explore various aspects of photography, including light, color, and gesture.

Environmental Portrait

Photograph by Maleika K. Ogilvie

Drexel University hosted the Photo Camp in partnership with Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia. Many Drexel employees allowed the young photographers to talk with them and take their portraits.

Student and Circles

Photograph by Gemanael Parks

Photo Camp students learned variations of portraiture and how to place a subject within a frame.

Neighborhood Barbershop

Photograph by Dominiek Johnson

Encouraged to take their cameras home each night during Photo Camp, students were tasked with documenting their own neighborhoods.

Laundromat

Photograph by Maura Tezik

The neighborhoods in West Philadelphia provided a colorful array of people and places to photograph, helping to teach students about photographic storytelling.

Red Braid

Photograph by Christyona Grier

Using color and composition, student Christyona Grier made a unique portrait using detail.

Dog in a Park

Photograph by Quadair Bradley

Photo Camp student Quadair Bradley found dogs to be very difficult to photograph—until he got down to their level.

Aerial Artist

Photograph by Tracey Riley

West Philadelphia's Clark Park Farmers Market is more than just seasonal produce and goods: A tiny circus includes aerial artists who use the bough of a large tree to perform for shoppers.

Portrait of a Young Woman

Photograph by Allen Lark

Photo Camp students practiced capturing emotion and fleeting moments in a still image.

Plant Detail

Photograph by Jamyra Harper

Photo Camp students learned to use detail images to tell visual stories.

Apple Vendor

Photograph by Cesar Perez

The Clark Park Farmers Market made a lively backdrop for Photo Camp students practicing composition in storytelling.

Portrait of Dotty Brown

Photograph by Kiera King

An exercise in quality of light allowed student Kiera King to make this side-lit portrait of fellow student Dotty Brown.

Street Scene

Photograph by Christian Justiniano

During Photo Camp, students were taught a visual vocabulary for storytelling that includes composition and leading lines.

Little Boy and Leaf

Photograph by Kyarea Smith

West Philadelphia on a Saturday is filled with all walks of life and provided a great opportunity for Photo Camp students to practice making portraits of people they had just met.

Portrait of Allen Lark

Photograph by Meghan Tezik

Photo Camp Philadelphia student Meghan Tezik considered color and light when making this portrait of fellow student Allen Lark.

Skateboarders

Photograph by Marquan Royster

For student Marquan Royster, skateboarders at Clark Park made for a great exercise in shooting action images.